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GOP leaders say lawmaker should resign over vulgar videos

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A daily newsletter by Spotlight PA
Your Postmaster: Ed Mahon
October 9, 2020
A possible election deal, burying the hatchet, calls for resignation, and that one time a street swallowed a bus. Hey, we made it to Friday.
RUNNING OUT OF TIME

With time running out ahead of the 2020 election, Harrisburg lawmakers are making one final push to prevent long delays in vote counting, Spotlight PA reports.

State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia) has introduced legislation solely focused on giving counties more time to process the millions of mail-in and absentee ballots that are expected. Right now, county election offices can't start processing those ballots until the day of the election on Nov. 3.

Boyle's bill would let them start the process, known as pre-canvassing, 10 days ahead of Election Day. Meanwhile, House Republicans are considering giving counties four or five extra days to process mail-in ballots.

The Context: Pennsylvania is pretty important — its voters could decide who becomes president. But county leaders worry that anxious election-watchers across the U.S. will be waiting days or weeks for results, which could in turn lead to court battles and chaos

Bucks County Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, a Republican and former state lawmaker, wrote in a column last month that inaction by the legislature and governor could lead to a "man-made disaster."

DiGirolamao told Spotlight PA that he doesn't think pre-canvassing gives an advantage to Republicans or Democrats. "It just allows the counties to avert an awful lot of confusion," he said.

NOTABLE / QUOTABLE 

“I hope people will bury the hatchet for the greater good for the Democratic party. I do it all the time. I kiss up and do what I have to do.”

–– Philadelphia Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady about efforts to unseat Republican state Rep. Martina White in Northeast Philadelphia, where internal Democratic fights have hurt the party before.
POST IT: Thanks, Patricia R., for submitting this colorful fall photo of Lake Williams in Jacobus, Pa. Send us your hidden gems, use the hashtag #PAGems, or tag us on Instagram at @spotlightpennsylvania.
DAILY RUNDOWN
'IMMEDIATELY RESIGN': House Republican leaders called for the resignation of state Rep. Aaron Bernstine after USA TODAY's PA Capitol bureau reported that the Lawrence County Republican posted several vulgar Snapchat videos, including one that showed him encouraging his 5-year-old son to puff on a cigar. 

BRUTAL ADS: PennLive breaks down dueling claims in what is perhaps Pennsylvania's most closely watched congressional race: Democratic Auditor General Eugene DePasquale's challenge to Republican Rep. Scott Perry of York County.

'400 YEARS OF NONSENSE': A recent listening session in Lehigh County aimed at mending relationships between police and communities of color became tense when a high school principal challenged police to confront systemic racism. “We’re not trying to repeat 400 years of nonsense," he said, according to The Morning Call. "You all have a hand in reshaping that.” 

VOTING WITH DEMENTIA: A new guide describes what family members and caregivers should — and should not — do to help people with cognitive impairment vote. "If Mom always voted Republican, they can’t assume she’d do that again this year," The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. "She has to make the choice."

POLITICAL DISTANCE: Following a report that President Donald Trump is considering traveling to Pittsburgh despite recently testing positive for the coronavirus, the city's mayor and Allegheny County's executive, both Democrats, urged him to stay away, Pittsburgh City Paper reports.

» YOU'RE INVITED: Register now for our upcoming live interview with Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar on ensuring a fair and accurate election in Pennsylvania. You can also submit your questions.

PUMPKIN-SPICED NOSTALGIA: Thirteen years ago, I wrote about a pumpkin carving contest hosted by the Chadds Ford Historical Society. The carving skills were amazing especially for Medusa. I've always wanted to return. This year, the event is virtual (and it also happens to have a strict no politics rule). Fingers crossed for 2021.

BUS VS. STREET: I forgot about the time a Pittsburgh street swallowed a Port Authority bus. Fortunately, TribLIVE did not and has this update, nearly a year after the meme-inspiring incident.

THE ONLY DEBATE WORTH WATCHING: Yesterday was National Pierogi Day, a made-up holiday I celebrated by watching this years-old WNEP segment approximately 100 times. In it, people call into the Scranton-area TV station to fight about how to say "pierogi." One more reason to save local news. 

GOOD BOOKS: Several Pennsylvania authors have been named finalists for a prestigious National Book Award. They include Lancaster's Omar Mohamed, who co-wrote a graphic novel that details his experience growing up in a refugee camp, and Wilkinsburg's Deesha Philyaw

SHOW WILL GO ON? Northampton County's Roxy Theatre, shut down since March, has covered expenses by renting out its marquee and theater for small anniversaries or birthday parties, The Morning Call reports. It is one of many theaters facing uncertainty.

THE SCRAMBLER
Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out the winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag.
 
S I A A R N O T R T C E P

Yesterday's answer: Succulent

Congrats to our daily winners: Craig W., George D., Ann and John, Heidi G., Theodore W., Carol D., Patricia M., Chip K., Brandie K., John C., Dianne K., Joan S., Lynne E., Jarrod B., Tracey C., Thomas B., Joel S., Gail H., Karen W., Christina G., Craig S., Beth M., Chris W., Alex L., Ron P., Susan D., and David W. 
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